December 8, 2018

December 8, 2018, was a very special holiday for us: the 100th anniversary of our Grand Lodge. It was re-established on December 8, 1918, one month after the end of the First World War, the collapse of the Empire, and the beginning of the Republic. Exactly one hundred years to the day later, we celebrated this: with a major so-called Festarbeit in the ceremonial hall of the Vienna Hofburg. Around a thousand Brethren from all over Austria took part.

The photo shows the middle and front section of the ceremonial hall towards the end of the event, when all the Brethren, as at every ritual meeting, joined hands and thus formed a chain, intended to symbolise the unity of all Freemasons and, ultimately, of all people.

At the heart of the two-hour event was a multimedia performance: in alternating speeches, five Brethren positioned throughout the hall recited, following a precise script, the history of Austrian Freemasonry from its beginnings in the 18th century to the present day—accompanied by a small orchestra with music and historical songs.

The script of the multimedia performance can be read here.